You Need a Resume Title

A resume title is a simple but often overlooked component of a successful resume. It used to be the objective statement that would be found at the top of a resume but that has been replaced with a title that defines and represents your qualifications. To strategically position yourself as the ideal candidate and reap the most success from your resume you should consider using a title. A resume title offers an upfront glimpse at what the resume will be about. Much like the title of a book it can catch the eye of the reader making them want to read on for more.

It is essential that the title of your resume accurately reflect your qualifications while at the same time aligning with the position you are applying for. It may seem obvious, but don’t use a title that falsely represents you just to fit the position. You should also avoid using a title that has absolutely nothing to do with the role; if you are applying for a marketing position you wouldn’t title your resume First-Class Financial Strategist.

There is more to your resume title then just the name of the position. The title is an excellent place to use some career keywords which will help you to stand out from the crowd. For instance, if you were applying for a position in finance which title do you think would catch a hiring manager’s eye: Finance Manager or First-Class Financial Strategist.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking about how to title your resume:

Forward-Focused Human Resource Professional

Award-Winning IT Expert

Organizational Change-Agent

High-Impact Operations Manager

International Supply Chain Specialist

Achievement-Oriented Sales Expert

Enthusiastic Professional Development Trainer

Broad-Based Automotive Industry Professional

Entrepreneurial Visionary

Quality-Driven Project Manager

Team-Focused Management Professional

These titles can certainly be customized and adapted for your particular position and career. The most important thing no matter what title you use is that it is authentic. Second, it should clearly establish the role that you are seeking. Third, the content of your resume should support the title that you choose.

If you are struggling to come up with a title you may be able to use the job description to your benefit. For example, this is an excerpt from an actual job posting for a website content writer:

You should be flexible, quick-thinking, energetic, efficient, and able to work independently, under pressure while maintaining attention to detail. Excellent interpersonal skills are a must, as this position requires interacting with fellow writers and editors.

Based on the information in the advertisement an appropriate resume title would be:

Innovative and Energetic Web Content Expert

I should mention that the title of your resume and the title of your document (what you save it as) should not be the same thing. You should always use your name when saving your document. If you are submitting your resume electronically this will make it much easier for the person receiving it if they can see right there in the document title who it belongs to; this can also help your resume from falling into the black hole since it will be easier for them to save and search for your resume.

Hopefully, these tips will help you create a title that will make your resume unforgettable to your reader and accelerate your job search.